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Funding in Hesse: grants for websites, marketing and digitalisation

In Hesse, 3 state programmes are currently open that can subsidise services like ours – plus the federal programmes. Here you find all of them with funding rate, conditions and link.

Funding finder for Hesse

1What are you planning? Select as many as you like.

State programmes in Hesse (3)

Hesse

Design consulting funding (Hesse start-up and SME funding)

Official name: Förderung der Designberatung (Gründungs- und Mittelstandsförderung Hessen) · RKW Hessen on behalf of the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs

Pure consulting on brand design/management/launch/repositioning, corporate branding, communication materials, web design and web-based applications, product design, commissioning/briefing

max. 50% of the consulting fee (net) · max. €400 per consultant day; in total max. 15 consultant days per SME and calendar year across all RKW programmes

Suits: Brand and logo, Strategy, Consulting

  • Consulting only – design/implementation services (communication, media, product, web design) excluded
  • Prior check whether federal or chamber of crafts consulting takes priority
  • SME criteria

Note: Very suitable for agencies for brand/strategy workshops; the actual design/implementation (logo, website) is not funded. Whether the agency is approved as a consultant is decided by RKW Hessen.

Status: running – approved for 2026

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Hesseplease verify

Digitalisation consulting (Hesse start-up and SME funding)

Official name: Digitalisierungsberatung (Gründungs- und Mittelstandsförderung Hessen) · RKW Hessen on behalf of the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs

External consulting on digitalising processes/business models

max. 50% of the consulting fee · max. €400 per consultant day (according to IHK); in total max. 15 consultant days/calendar year across all RKW programmes

Suits: Consulting, Strategy, Automation

  • Consulting only, no implementation
  • SME criteria
  • Handled via RKW Hessen

Note: Have RKW Hessen confirm the daily rate beforehand. In 2026, RKW Hessen also offers general coaching, implementation of business development concepts and INQA coaching.

Status: running – approved for 2026

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Hesseplease verify

Distr@l – strengthening digitalisation, living transfer

Official name: Distr@l – Digitalisierung stärken, Transfer leben · WIBank on behalf of the Hessian Ministry for Digitalisation and Innovation

Digital innovation and transfer projects, incl. feasibility studies (FL 1), development of digital products/services

up to 50% (feasibility study) · Feasibility study up to €100,000; other lines higher

Suits: Software and apps

  • Degree of innovation required
  • Apply by email to WIBank per funding line/deadline

Note: Innovation/R&D programme, not a programme for classic agency services. Only relevant if the agency acts as development partner in a genuine innovation project (e.g. AI software).

Status: running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Currently closed or expired

Hessecurrently closed

DIGI grant Hesse (grant for digitalisation measures, GuM)

Official name: DIGI-Zuschuss Hessen (Zuschuss zu Digitalisierungsmaßnahmen, GuM) · WIBank (Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen)

(formerly) ICT hardware/software for digitalisation, IT security solutions, related services (data migration, porting, external training)

(formerly) up to 50% · (formerly) €10,000, minimum expenditure €4,000

  • No new applications
  • (formerly) lottery procedure, De-minimis, project start only after approval

Note: No more applications possible; websites, shops and marketing were not named as eligible anyway. Whether there will be a relaunch in 2027 is open.

Status: ended – funding phase ended in June 2026, no further calls planned

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wide programmes

Germany-wide

Funding for management consulting for SMEs (BAFA)

Official name: Förderung von Unternehmensberatungen für KMU (BAFA) · BMWE / BAFA (ESF Plus), applications via coordinating offices (Leitstellen)

Grant towards conceptual individual consulting on all economic, financial, HR and organisational questions of business management (max. 5 consulting days)

Saxony excl. Leipzig region: 80%; Leipzig region (City of Leipzig, Leipzig district, Nordsachsen) and western German states: 50% · Eligible costs max. €3,500 per consultation → max. €2,800 (80%) or €1,750 (50%); max. 2 consultations per year, 5 over the programme term

Suits: Consulting, Strategy, IT security, Automation

  • Apply online BEFORE consulting starts; sign contract only after the information letter from the Leitstelle (coordinating office)
  • Consultant must be registered with BAFA, mainly (>50% of revenue) management consulting, with QA system
  • Consulting report with analysis, weaknesses, specific recommendations for action

Note: Only consulting is eligible (e.g. marketing and sales strategy, digitalisation/AI strategy, recruitment concept, IT security concept), not implementation (design, website, campaign, film). Applications only until 31 December 2026.

Status: Running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wide

INQA coaching

Official name: INQA-Coaching · BMAS / ESF Plus; approval by DRV Knappschaft-Bahn-See; entry via INQA advice centres (IBS)

Grant for participatory coaching (agile method with lab team) on HR/work-organisation change needs related to digital transformation

80% of the maximum daily rate (€1,200 net/day); 20% own contribution · Max. 12 consulting days → max. €11,520 grant

Suits: Coaching, Consulting, Automation, Training

  • First INQA consultation at an IBS (initial advice centre), then INQA coaching voucher (early start permitted from voucher)
  • Only coaches from the pool authorised for INQA coaching, no subcontracting
  • Reimbursement principle: company pays upfront

Note: Suits AI/automation rollouts in terms of work organisation, leadership, employee participation – not technical implementation or marketing.

Status: Running

Checked: 22 June 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

ERP promotional loan for digitalisation (KfW 511/512) incl. ERP grant

Official name: ERP-Förderkredit Digitalisierung (KfW 511/512) inkl. ERP-Förderzuschuss · BMWE / BMF / KfW via your bank

Loan in 3 levels: Basis (hardware, standard software, cloud migration), LevelUp (process digitalisation, digital business models, implementation of a social media communication concept, digitalisation strategy, IT security concepts, further training), HighEnd (future technologies such as AI, big data).

Reduced-interest loan; grant 3% (LevelUp) or 5% (HighEnd) of the disbursed loan, level 1 without grant; optional 50% liability exemption · Loan up to €7.5 million (level 1) or €25 million (level 2/3); grant max. €200,000

Suits: Software and apps, Cloud, IT security, Automation, Online shop, Website, Social media, Training, Strategy, Web hosting

  • Apply via your bank before the project starts
  • KfW digitalisation check (mandatory for Basis level)
  • No refinancing/follow-up financing

Note: Broadest nationwide lever for implementation services, but a loan (grant share only 3–5%). Implementing a social media concept is explicitly named under LevelUp; whether a web shop or hosting is recognised is decided case by case by your bank and KfW.

Status: Running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

ERP start-up loan – StartGeld (KfW 067)

Official name: ERP-Gründerkredit – StartGeld (KfW 067) · BMWE / KfW via your bank

Loan for investments and working capital (e.g. software, marketing, website)

80% liability exemption for your bank; interest rate market-dependent · Up to €200,000 external financing need, of which max. €80,000 working capital

Suits: Brand and logo, Website, Online shop, Print, Social media, SEO and online marketing, Film and photo, Trade fair presence, Software and apps, Web hosting, Cloud

  • Apply at your bank before the project starts
  • Viable business concept

Note: Loan, not a grant. Have your bank confirm the terms before applying.

Status: Running

Checked: 1 February 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wide

Trade fair programme 'Young Innovators' – participation of young innovative companies in leading international trade fairs in Germany

Official name: Messeprogramm 'Young Innovators' – Teilnahme junger innovativer Unternehmen an internationalen Leitmessen in Deutschland · BMWE / BAFA (with AUMA and trade fair organisers)

Grant towards stand rent and stand construction on the BMWE joint stand (invoiced by the trade fair organiser)

60% for the first two participations, 50% from the third · Max. €7,500 per exhibitor and trade fair

Suits: Trade fair presence

  • Register with the trade fair organiser no later than 8 weeks before the fair starts, then apply to BAFA immediately
  • Only trade fairs on the annual BMWE list
  • Innovation must be described (own development)

Note: Only stand rent/construction of the joint stand – own stand design, print, film or trade fair marketing by the agency are NOT eligible.

Status: Running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

Mittelstand-Digital centres (free services)

Official name: Mittelstand-Digital Zentren (kostenfreie Angebote) · BMWE

Free workshops, demonstrators, practical projects, initial consulting (no cash grant)

100% free of charge · —

Suits: Consulting, Automation, IT security, Social media, SEO and online marketing, Online shop, Training

  • No grant for external service providers

Note: Which centres will start in 2027 is not yet known. Thematic centres (e.g. retail, crafts) partly run until 31 December 2026.

Status: Transition phase: existing network being gradually phased out until end of 2026

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

Cybersecurity Transfer Office for SMEs / CYBERsicher check and emergency help

Official name: Transferstelle Cybersicherheit im Mittelstand / CYBERsicher Check und Notfallhilfe · BMWE (Mittelstand-Digital funding priority), a BVMW project

Free events, materials, CYBERsicher check, emergency help (no cash grant)

100% free of charge · —

Suits: IT security

  • No grant for external IT security service providers

Note: There has been no standalone federal GRANT for IT security in SMEs since go-digital ended; IT security is covered via Digi-Z/Digi-D (SN), KfW 511/512 (LevelUp) or as a consulting topic (BAFA, Saxon business consulting).

Status: Running

Checked: 1 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

Training funding for employees (§ 82 SGB III, 'Qualifizierungschancengesetz' – Qualification Opportunities Act)

Official name: Weiterbildungsförderung Beschäftigter (§ 82 SGB III, 'Qualifizierungschancengesetz') · Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency, employer service)

Grant towards course fees and wages during training

< 50 employees: up to 100% of course fees and up to 75% wage subsidy; 50–499: 50%/up to 50%; 500 or more: 25%; +5 percentage points with a collective or works agreement · No fixed upper limit

Suits: Training

  • Course > 120 hours
  • Provider and course AZAV-accredited
  • More than job-specific adaptation training

Note: Only usable if the agency (or a partner) is an AZAV-certified training provider offering courses > 120 h (e.g. AI/digital marketing qualification).

Status: Running

Checked: 1 April 2024Programme page ↗

How funding works with Trendtreiber

  1. Initial consultationWe clarify your project and check together which programmes fit in your federal state.
  2. Quote for the applicationYou receive a fixed-price quote and a project description that you can attach to your application.
  3. Application before orderYou submit the application yourself. You only place the order once the programme allows it – usually after approval.
  4. Delivery and proofWe deliver the project and provide invoices and documentation so that you can easily prove how the funds were used.

Frequently asked questions about funding in Hesse

What funding is available in Hesse for digitalisation and marketing?

In Hesse, 3 state programmes that can subsidise services such as automation, brand and logo, consulting, software and apps, strategy are currently open: Design consulting funding (Hesse start-up and SME funding), Digitalisation consulting (Hesse start-up and SME funding), Distr@l – strengthening digitalisation, living transfer. The federal programmes apply as well.

Is a new website or online shop funded in Hesse?

A pure advertising website is hardly eligible in Hesse at the moment. Digital processes such as an online shop, booking or interfaces have better chances and can be funded through digitalisation programmes.

Do I have to apply before placing the order?

In almost all programmes, yes. Talk to us before the project starts – you will get a quote and a project description for your application.

All information without guarantee, as of 13 October 2026. Funding programmes change often and budgets can run out. Only the guidelines and the decision of the funding body are binding. We are not a funding consultancy and do not submit applications for you; we provide the quote and documents for your application.

See all federal states and the funding finder →

Discuss funding in Hesse

Briefly describe your project. We check which programmes fit and provide the quote and documents for the application.

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